Annual execution figures show dramatic fall

The annual number of people executed fell significantly worldwide last year, from 3,797 to 2,148, according to Amnesty's annual report on the death penalty, published today.

Most of the executions were carried out by China - 1,770, with 94 in Iran, 86 in Saudi Arabia and 60 in the US. Amnesty cautioned that the figures were a minimum as China did not publish full statistics.

The number of countries carrying out executions has halved in 20 years, and fell for a fourth consecutive year last year, from 25 to 22. In spite of this, there are still around 20,000 prisoners on death rows worldwide.